Chapter 61

# 61 < Growing Pains (4) >

The voices of the children seeped out from inside the house.

“Tte-tte-tte- Atim badam tan badame- Ugo ganeun jeo gideogi-.”

“Ehehe-.”

It was the sound of Hong Soo-jung playing clapping games with Yoo Jin. Every time they made a lisping sound, the dads who weren’t there to laugh heartily made them sing confidently.

Jin-hyeok bit his lips tightly to avoid laughing, but his flaring nostrils were out of his control.

Kkeu-eup-!

‘That was close.’

Hwi-yu-u-.

As soon as he stepped outside, he let out the laughter he had been holding back with a long sigh.

Jin-hyeok brought watermelon punch to the porch for the dads to recover from their hangovers. It was watermelon soaked in honey water with rice cakes floating in it, a snack particularly favored by Hong Ki-jun. He said it was something he could never get from Yoo Se-ra.

Anyway.

The bet, which had no tension but a big pot, ended blandly with Jin-hyeok’s victory.

“Gweo-eo-eo-, I feel relieved!”

Hong Ki-jun, who had gulped down the watermelon punch on the porch, looked at Jin-hyeok with bloodshot eyes.

“If you leave it to me, I’ll make it grow.”

“Only if Dad allows it.”

“What’s there to allow or not? It’s your money now, so Jin-hyeok will decide.”

How rich is Dad to hand over the decision-making power of 30 million won, a huge sum, to a middle schooler?

Anyway, Jin-hyeok only put in 1 million won.

Dad spent close to 20 million won.

This is unfair.

“I didn’t put in much-.”

“I’ll add another 10 million won.”

“Good for you. Then let’s leave Jin-hyeok’s allowance as it is.”

Oh my.

Suddenly, it felt like he had swindled 20 million won from each of the two dads.

To casually hand over money that could buy two luxury sedans to a middle schooler—is this something that could happen in a normal world?

Rich people are just impossible to understand.

In the end, was the bet just an excuse to give money to Jin-hyeok?

There’s no reason for that, right?

“Dad’s doing it because he’s grateful.”

“Uncle too.”

Not knowing what they were grateful for, Jin-hyeok just went along with it.

It’s easier to think that the rich uncles are just doing it for fun, and besides, he’s not even interested in the money.

“How are you going to grow it?”

He asked directly, curious.

Surely they’re not going to buy stocks in Sain Electronics or Daejeong Electronics, right?

Buying in 2005 and selling in 2020 would be the best. Ah, this time Jin-hyeok isn’t in the group, so the stock price might change.

“Leave it to me. This is a secret even for me.”

Hong Ki-jun winked.

Why do men wink at each other? They can’t even do it properly.

His eyelid twitched like someone with a magnesium deficiency.

Anyway, they said they’d grow the money themselves, and Jin-hyeok didn’t feel like claiming his rights, so he just nodded.

“Jin-hyeok, what kind of tree is that?”

Hong Ki-jun pointed to a tree between the yard and the field, short in height but casting a decent shade. Under it, Jang Gun-i was coiled up like a snake.

“It’s an acorn tree.”

“Isn’t that a bit odd?”

Yeah, Jin-hyeok muttered.

It’s been there for over two years, but he just accepted it. Isn’t that what nature is about?

Unlike a typical acorn tree, its trunk was thick and short, but its leaves were ridiculously wide. Thanks to the nutrient-rich soil, the leaves were a dark green color.

“Why is it there…?”

“Did it drift here during the rainy season?”

Burning with curiosity over trivial questions seems to be a man’s inherent trait, regardless of age. Except for Jin-hyeok.

The two dads started competing to come up with theories.

“Maybe aliens planted it?”

“Didn’t the acorn grow legs?”

When the alien planting theory and the acorn bipedal theory came up, Jin-hyeok just went along with it.

Even Jin-hyeok thought the alien theory was plausible.

“Maybe acorns just appear in the air? Like elemental combination or something.”

“Maybe Jang Gun-i dug it up and planted it. That guy’s amazing at digging with his snout.”

When the two uncles proposed the acorn spontaneous generation theory and the Jang Gun-i farming dog theory, Jin-hyeok just looked up at the sky.

Please rain.

Then, a savior appeared.

“Jin-hyeok’s dad- What are you doing outside since morning? Aigoo, the Seoul CEO is here.”

“Hahaha. Hello, CEO Choi.”

Hong Ki-jun glanced meaningfully at Choi Jang-hwan’s companion.

It was a yellow Jindo dog.

Grrr-.

Jang Gun-i bared his sharp teeth and let out a low warning growl.

“Jang Gun-i must be lonely, so I came to pair him with our Hwang-gu. The smell drove our Hwang-gu crazy.”

Choi Jang-hwan smiled warmly, a friendly smile.

Most residents get companion dogs, but for guard dogs tied up in the yard, they usually choose large breeds. If not large, at least medium-sized dogs. Choi Mi-kyung’s Jindo dog Hwang-gu was like that, as were Lee Jae-young’s Tosa dog Tokku and Yook Seong-chan’s strange mixed breed Mary. There were too many to mention, but guard dogs were mostly large breeds.

Well, everyone knows that.

Jang Gun-i is a typical small dog with big ears and long fur. Not many people want puppies from such small dogs, so there were no neighbors trying to arrange a mating. Thus, country small dogs lived freely without being tied up.

But Choi Jang-hwan was mistaken.

‘There are plenty of guys who bother Jang Gun-i.’

It’s not that Jang Gun-i can’t have puppies because he’s a small dog and unpopular. Local small dogs, stray dogs, and even unleashed large dogs have all annoyed Jang Gun-i and ended up bleeding and running away. Jin-hyeok, who’s always with Jang Gun-i, knows this well.

Jin-hyeok inwardly snorted and observed the yellow dog.

Clumps of fur were missing from its tail, neck, and ears. The bite marks were clear. Even though it’s a brave and agile Jindo dog. With a sharp eye, it’s clear that Jang Gun-i did it.

Jang Gun-i not only eats the food Jin-hyeok gives him but also roams the neighborhood, stealing other dogs’ food. Not sneaking, but intimidating and beating the owners to take it. What started as fighting for food eventually turned into tribute. When Jang Gun-i shows up, the dogs quietly retreat. Jang Gun-i has conquered the neighborhood.

Even a lion would believe it, said the vet Park Bu-ro, whose insight was astonishing.

The wounds on the yellow dog’s body must be related to dog food.

Being the closest, the yellow dog must have received the most visits from Jang Gun-i. The image of the yellow dog getting scolded for bothering Jang Gun-i, who steals his food, is vivid.

‘Jang Gun-i is the boss. The queen.’

Jin-hyeok, who likes small and cute things, had secretly hoped for puppies. But Jang Gun-i showed more attachment to playing with Jin-hyeok than to romance. So, Jin-hyeok hoped Jang Gun-i would live as he pleased. Freely.

Kki-ing-.

Jin-hyeok inwardly hoped Jang Gun-i would stand up for his pride. As the boss.

But Jang Gun-i, who had bared his teeth at the yellow dog in warning, tucked his tail and backed away when Choi Jang-hwan approached.

‘The local dogs are scared of Mr. Choi.’

Jo Il-hun said it’s because of the smell of blood that comes from Choi Jang-hwan. He’s always the first to prepare chickens, pigs, and cows at village feasts, so the smell has stuck to him. Whether it’s true or not, even the brave Jang Gun-i lowered his tail, so it’s hard not to believe.

Jin-hyeok’s heart bled as he watched Jang Gun-i whine and go into his house. He wished Jang Gun-i had barked and fought, but this weak behavior was a first.

Jang Gun-i rolled his big eyes, looking at Son Kwang-yeon and Jin-hyeok as if asking for help.

Just as Jin-hyeok couldn’t hold back and was about to step in.

“Brother, I’ll take care of it.”

Son Kwang-yeon took the leash from Choi Jang-hwan.

He gave his son a sly smile, as if he knew what he was thinking.

“Our Jang Gun-i is good, right? Come here. Jju-jju-jju-.”

Still, as his owner, Jang Gun-i pitifully looked around and came out of the house. He obediently accepted the collar being put on him. Even then, he looked at Jin-hyeok as if pleading.

‘He would’ve run away any other time.’

Jang Gun-i is a dog who lives without a collar.

He always follows his owner and sleeps under the acorn tree when he’s full. He could’ve run away anytime. But when Choi Jang-hwan brought the yellow dog, Jang Gun-i didn’t run.

‘It must be because of us.’

There are things that don’t need to be said. When you live together for a long time, you can read each other’s minds from small actions. Jin-hyeok vaguely understood what Jang Gun-i was thinking. He must’ve believed his owner would protect him, or maybe he wanted to protect his owner from the yellow dog.

Choi Jang-hwan hammered a stake in front of Jang Gun-i’s house and hung two leashes on it.

Choi Jang-hwan, who had set up a new room, gestured toward the entrance.

“Ah-, kids, go inside.”

Hong Soo-jung and Yoo Jin, who were curious about the commotion outside, peeked out.

***

“Oh my, how embarrassing. That person is just watching over there?”

Yoo Se-ra grumbled as she saw Hong Ki-jun standing outside with his arms crossed. Still, she didn’t say anything about her husband being a man. She thought she wouldn’t nag him since he’s always busy with work and came here to relax.

“Jin-hyeok’s mom, will Jang Gun-i be okay?”

“Kkeuk-.”

Han Yu-young, who was peeling a melon, let out a laugh through her nose.

It was a laugh filled with mockery.

“Jang Gun-i must be five or six years old by now.”

“I thought he was a puppy because he’s cute. Well, it’s been four years since I’ve seen him.”

She came to meet the landowner and ended up connecting with this family. Time flies. Back then, Son Jin-hyeok, who was a ten-year-old boy, has grown taller than her husband, and her five-year-old daughter, who was slow to speak, is already going to school.

Han Yu-young handed Yoo Se-ra a piece of melon she had neatly cut with a fork.

“At Jang Gun-i’s age, he should’ve already had a few puppies.”

“Maybe he’s infertile?”

Yoo Se-ra muttered with a blank face as she took a bite of the melon.

Having struggled to have her own daughter, she empathized with Jang Gun-i’s situation.

“I don’t know about that, but other dogs are too scared to approach him.”

Han Yu-young’s expression was like that of a general. She had a face that could easily look arrogant.

Yoo Se-ra couldn’t understand how such a small dog could be so scary.

Then.

Ggeu-geo-eong- Ggeu-eong-!

As if mocking Yoo Se-ra’s expectations, a loud scream came from outside.

***

Jin-hyeok could understand the underlying meaning of his dad’s relaxed attitude.

Jang Gun-i, who had hidden in the doghouse out of fear of Choi Jang-hwan, bit the yellow dog’s nose when it sniffed around the house.

Son Kwang-yeon also knew about Jang Gun-i’s extraordinary nature.

‘Oh no, the yellow dog must be in pain.’

He must’ve followed his owner here.

Ar-rr-! Wal!

Jang Gun-i didn’t stop there and firmly bit the yellow dog’s tail as it turned around.

Ggae-gaeng-!

Jin-hyeok held his forehead. While he was glad Jang Gun-i stood his ground and showed his pride, he felt sorry for the closest neighbor.

‘Still, our Jang Gun-i is the best.’

True to his name, Jang Gun-i is brave and proud.

Hong Ki-jun, who had been pondering something with narrowed eyes, stroked his chin.

“These guys, maybe they’re embarrassed because there are too many eyes on them?”

Ah, this ice-cold uncle isn’t helpful. It’s time for Jang Gun-i to be freed. Still, it wasn’t a wrong thought. Jang Gun-i is a perceptive dog. Maybe he’s throwing a tantrum out of shame, even though he has his own intentions.

“Then let’s leave him here and come back tomorrow to take him-.”

The male dog owner gives the male dog to the owner. Choi Jang-hwan left, preemptively claiming a puppy that hadn’t even been born yet.

‘Yeah, hang in there, yellow dog.’

Jin-hyeok cheered for the yellow dog as he went inside.

He didn’t know who he was cheering for, but he wanted to see the puppy.

***

The yard and the living room were bathed in the orange glow of the sunset.

Jin-hyeok, worried about Jang Gun-i, wandered by the living room window.

The yellow dog, feeling abandoned by its owner, sat facing Choi Mi-kyung’s house.

‘Why does the back of a dog’s head look so lonely?’

Jang Gun-i didn’t show his face in the house. Fortunately, there was no bloodshed, but the atmosphere was completely subdued.

‘I can’t figure out Jang Gun-i’s feelings.’

Why is he making such a big deal out of it?

The pleading look in his eyes is still vivid.

Maybe Jang Gun-i prefers hanging out with Jin-hyeok and Yoo Jin over making dog friends. That’s why he’s so admirable and endearing.

‘I taught him wrong. All we did was run around, so Jang Gun-i has no interest in romance.’

It’s my fault.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll read him the book “The Art of Love” from the third-floor study.

Well, Jin-hyeok doesn’t know much either, but maybe some theory would help.